6 Surprising Facts About Ice Cream Sandwiches You Probably Haven’t Heard

August 2 marks National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. But what defines an ice cream sandwich? In the U.S., it’s commonly ice cream nestled between two chocolate wafers with perforations, though biscuits, cookies, and various other treats can also serve as the outer layers.

Originally, vanilla was the go-to flavor for ice cream sandwich fillings. Over time, options expanded to include Neapolitan (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) and now virtually every imaginable flavor. Let’s celebrate this iconic frozen treat in honor of its special day.

1. Ice cream sandwiches first gained popularity in the late 1800s, sold by street vendors in New York City.

The exact origins of the ice cream sandwich remain unclear, but food historian Jeri Quinzio shared with The Boston Globe that early versions were known as hokey pokeys. These were sold by vendors on New York City’s Bowery around the early 1900s. At the time, the treat consisted of ice cream pressed between two pieces of paper and sold for just one penny.

Quinzio referenced an 1899 piece in the New York Mail and Express, which declared: “From ham to salmon, cheese to countless others, the newest addition to the sandwich family is the ice-cream sandwich.”

2. The first recorded ice cream sandwich recipe featured sponge cake as its base.

As reported by the Food Network, the earliest documented recipe for ice cream sandwiches didn’t use biscuits; instead, it called for two slices of sponge cake.

3. Initially created as an affordable snack, they quickly became a favorite in upscale dining establishments.

Originally sold by street vendors, these “sandwiches” were aimed at the working class. However, their irresistible taste soon won over Wall Street professionals. On August 19, 1899, the New York Sun highlighted this trend, noting: “Brokers began purchasing ice cream sandwiches, enjoying them alongside messengers and office boys in a display of sidewalk camaraderie.”

Over time, upscale restaurants began offering them, with “elite confectioners serving them on plates with forks in an elegant manner, claiming their versions were far superior to the street-sold ones,” as Quinzio explained to The Boston Globe.

4. The iconic ice cream cookie sandwich originated in San Francisco.

Cookies have emerged as a favored substitute for the traditional chocolate wafer in crafting ice cream sandwiches, and California is credited with this innovation. In 1928, a San Francisco ice cream vendor decided to sandwich a scoop of ice cream between two oatmeal cookies and then coat the entire creation in chocolate, giving birth to a new type of ice cream sandwich.

5. A food vendor at a baseball stadium is often credited with inventing the modern ice cream sandwich, though this claim may stem from Wikipedia.

Various sources credit Jeremy Newberg, an ice cream vendor at Pittsburgh’s former Forbes Field, with creating the classic vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream sandwich. This treat featured a neat block of vanilla ice cream nestled between two rectangular chocolate wafers. Newberg crafted and sold these delights at baseball games during the 1940s.

In 2019, The Boston Globe spoke with Newberg (then 91) and his family about his impact on the ice cream sandwich scene. While Newberg confirmed selling the desserts at the stadium for five cents each, his grandson Matt was more reserved. Matt explained that, to honor his grandfather’s stories, he listed Newberg as one of the inventors on Wikipedia. This is how Newberg’s name became synonymous with the treat. “We’re not certain he’s the actual inventor,” Matt admitted, “but we call him that out of love.”

6. Many countries have developed their unique takes on the ice cream sandwich.

Though the ice cream sandwich originated in America, countries like Australia, Ireland, Singapore, Israel, Uruguay, Iran, and Vietnam have created their own versions. In Iran, the bastani-e nooni features saffron and rosewater ice cream sandwiched between wafers and coated in pistachios. Meanwhile, Vietnamese street vendors offer bánh mì kẹp kem, where ice cream is pressed between bread slices and garnished with crushed peanuts, creating a true sandwich experience.